The Car That Started It All
My Dream Car, The Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2
People often ask me where my passion for cars began.
It wasn’t a Corvette. It wasn’t a Mustang. It wasn’t even a Ferrari.
It was a Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2.
To this day, it remains my favorite car of all time and the one car I would own if I could choose only one. While most enthusiasts dream about Countachs, Miuras, or modern supercars, my heart has always belonged to the elegant grand touring machine that helped establish Lamborghini as a serious automobile manufacturer.
My story with the 400 GT began when I was 14 years old.
Back then, I spent as much time as possible around exotic cars, searching for opportunities to learn from anyone willing to share their knowledge. One day, I found myself at Timo Race Corp, a legendary destination for exotic automobiles and racing machinery.
Sitting there was a Lamborghini unlike anything I had ever seen.
It wasn’t loud or flashy. It didn’t have wings, scoops, or outrageous styling. Instead, it possessed something far more powerful, sophistication.
The long hood, the beautiful Touring bodywork, the delicate proportions, and that unmistakable Lamborghini crest immediately captured my attention.
Standing nearby was the legendary mechanic Heinz Bade.
At the time, I had no idea how important he would become in my life. I simply walked over and asked him about the car.
That single question changed everything.
Heinz began explaining what made the Lamborghini 400 GT special. He talked about Ferruccio Lamborghini’s vision to build a better grand touring car than Ferrari. He explained the engineering, the handcrafted construction, and the incredible V12 engine developed by Giotto Bizzarrini.
As he spoke, I listened.
Then I asked another question.
And another.
Before long, a friendship had begun, one that would shape my understanding of automobiles for years to come.
The more I learned about the 400 GT, the more fascinated I became.
Unlike many sports cars of the era, the Lamborghini was designed to be driven long distances in comfort. Beneath its elegant aluminum body sat a 3.9-liter V12 producing approximately 320 horsepower, an astonishing figure in the mid-1960s. The engine was smooth, powerful, and refined, capable of propelling the car to nearly 160 miles per hour.
But numbers only tell part of the story.
What truly impressed me was Lamborghini’s philosophy.
Ferruccio Lamborghini believed that performance should not come at the expense of comfort. He wanted a car that could cruise effortlessly across Europe while still outperforming many competitors. The 400 GT 2+2 embodied that vision perfectly.
Inside, the cabin was beautifully appointed with leather, wood, and thoughtful craftsmanship. Unlike the earlier 350 GT, the 400 GT featured a revised interior with seating for four people. It was luxurious without being excessive, sporting without being uncomfortable.
For a teenager dreaming about cars, it represented perfection.
The Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 was also a pivotal automobile in automotive history. It followed the successful 350 GT and laid the foundation for everything Lamborghini would become. Without the 400 GT, there might never have been a Miura, Countach, Diablo, Murciélago, or Revuelto.
This was the car that proved Lamborghini belonged on the world stage.
Only 247 examples of the 400 GT 2+2 were produced, making it one of the rarest Lamborghinis ever built. Today, collectors recognize its importance, but for many years it remained overshadowed by the Miura that followed.
I have always thought that was a mistake.
The Miura may have changed the supercar world, but the 400 GT established Lamborghini’s reputation for engineering excellence, craftsmanship, and innovation.
Every car enthusiast remembers that one vehicle that sparked their passion.
For some, it is a poster on a bedroom wall.
For others, it is a car they saw at a dealership or at a race track.
For me, it was a Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 sitting inside Timo Race Corp and a conversation with Heinz Bade that opened the door to a lifetime of learning.
More than fifty years later, I still remember that day.
I remember the smell of the shop.
I remember staring at the V12.
I remember listening to Heinz explain why the car was special.
Most importantly, I remember realizing that automobiles were more than transportation. They were engineering, design, history, and passion rolled into one remarkable machine.
That Lamborghini started my journey.
And if you ask me today what my dream car is, the answer hasn’t changed.
It’s still the Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2.
Some dreams never get old.
— Peter “Webdoc” Martin
Like what you’re reading?
If you’d like to explore how content writing, blogging and articles can boost your online presence or want more information, schedule a quick call with Peter “webdoc” Martin.